Cleaning and drying machine



May 24, 1932. A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 18, 1929 INVENTOR M fflm a m ATTOBNEY:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /77L ATTORNEY:

May 24, 1932.

A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHIN E Filed Nov. 18, 1929.

BY M

6 Sheets-Sheet '3 ATTORN 5Y5 May 24, 1932. A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING ANDDRYING MACHINE Fild Nov.l8, i929 May 24, 1932.

A. E. BROADSTON CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Npv.18, 1929 lea-EN. A

umlwn niml I I I May 24, 1932. A. E. B' ROADSTON H CLEANING AND DRYI GMACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1929 y 1932. A. E. BROADSTON1,860,132

CL EANING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented May 24, 1932 .7 ANDREW E.- Bnoenscron, or nonwoononro',Assranon To THEL NITED STATES IrL'A'Y IR'G cleanest/teeny, or nonwoon,oirlo} A cortroiaarro'n on OHIO omen-rue Ann eme meonjrnn Applicationfiled November 18, 1929.1 seia1"1wo. 4ov,ss7.

This invention relatestoa machine for removing excess metal dust fromprinted or lithographed surfaces. While the machineand methodofthisinvention may be adapted for many spec'ificuses, theinventionwillbe explained in relation to removing the excess metal dust fromlithographed surfaces such as those of playing cards.

Thesercards are usuaily printed on large sheets in a multiple of theindividual unit and later cut. Metal dust is-applied when desired bylithographing an adhesive over the portion of the sheet tolbe bronzed,silvered or gilded, then applying the metal dust to the whole sheet. Themetal dustin the main ad; heres to the portion coated with adhesive butparticles remain over theientire surface,

In the past it has been necessary :to stack the sheets as they come fromthe press which applied the metal dust, with extra-sheets between thel-ithographed sheetsto prevent sets ting-off and. then after the sheetsvere dry to conditions outlined.

run them through a. second: machine which would polish off the excessmetal dust. This required. considerable time and: manual work as will beobvious from a consideration of the Nowthe machine of this invention,while suitable fordusting the dry sheets, is likewise suitableforremoving the excess metal dust while wet as thesheets come from thepresson which :the metal dust was applied;

It is therefore to be observed that the pri{ mary object ofthisinvention is to provide a method and machine for removing the ex? 7cess metal dust from printed and .lith'o-r graphed surfaces andparticularly from freshly lithographed or printed surfaces.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in adescription ofthe accompanying drawings, forming apart of thisspecification, which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. I

Figure 2 is a sectional 2+2, Figure 1. Figure 3 1s aview taken onj lineFigure 4c is avi'ew of the left side of the malongitudinal secti on; ivie W taken on line 3-3, Figure2.

'. Figure 5 is an enlarged; view, fragmentary of Figure 2, but ofenlarged dimension, illus- Figure 9 is a' sectionalviewtaken on line9-9, Figure 'Z,il1ust ting the lower adjustable blanket roll bearing. i

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line l0l0, Figure l showing therelative positions of all theparts- I V Figure 11 is a greatly enlargedView of one of the'cleaner belts in cross section, Show ingit'operatingupon a sheet of card board.

The machine of this invention comprises three major subcomb inations.The first is the dusting or brushing unit; the second, is theconvey ngor feeding mechanism for presenting the-lithographed surfaces. to thebrushing unit; the third is a mechanism for vtrating the gearing andthecam and lever f dispensing adrying powder evenly overthe iithogr phedsurface prior to its presentation to the brushing unit. r v v Thebrushing unit comprises a senies of cleaner belts the outer surfaces ofwhich are of afabriehavinga soft pile. Adjacent belts traveiin oppositedirections. At thejend of the-beits a brush isprovided for'removing thedust therefrom. Beneath j the belts of the brushing unit is an endlessconveyor which belongsto the feeding group, The

conveyor travel-s at i right angles or trans versely to :the beltso'f'the brushing unit. This endiess conveyor is suitably provided withpower, driven rollers and appropriate complementary 1dl1n grolisaforfeeding, the

sheets to the endless,convey0rbeneath the brushing unit and removing thesheets therefrom. Immediatelyrabove the initial feedingv rollers islocatedqa container-for talc,;a dust'of magnesia andFren'ch chalk, orsome other appropriate drying or polishingflpowde-r. This container isagitated preferably V periodically to discharge the powder on thelithographed sheetbefore its presentation to the'brushing unit.

The'entire machine is driven by an electric motor. .Motion reducingmechanism is used in orderto give the belts of the brushing unit arelatively rapid motion compared to that of the sheet feeding mechanism.

In detail the machine comprises heavy side frames 15, 15 in which arelocated the bear ings for the parallel roller shafts of the sheetfeeding-mechanism as well as various power shafts. Secondary frames 16;16 are provided extending between the heavy journal 15- frames 15, 15.In these latter frames 16, 16 are mounted the bearings for the parallelshafts of the brushing unit' Below theframes16,,16 is a box, 17 disposedso that the powder and metal dustremoved from the sheets may fall intoit and be conveniently removed from the machine as desired. At the righthand side of Figure 2 is disclosed (in dot and dash lines) the endlessconveyor 18 by which the sheets19, are removed from the machine whichapplied the metal dust to them.

Rubbing this endless conveyor and rotated rev-ersely thereto is afeed-in roller 20 having above it a complementary idling roller 21. Theroller 20 is covered with mohair and functions to brush the chalk andgold dust from the conveyor belt 18. The dust is removed from the roller20 by means of a scraper 20 disposed longitudinally thereof and below.Adjacent to this feed-in roller is disposed the endless conveyor 18which presents the-sheets- 19 to the brushing unit.

This belt or conveyor is engaged by three rollers 23, 24, 25, on thefeed-in side of the brushing unit, roller 24 on the take-out side 7 ofthe brushing unit, and a tension roller 25 below the center of thebrushing unit. The endless conveyor 18 passes around these threerollers. Anidler roller 26 is provided above the endless conveyor overthe first mentioned-roller of the endless conveyor system.

The lower third roller is adj ustably mount- [ed to provide the desiredtension for the endless co nveyorand to properly. align the conveyor onits rollers. Idler rollers 26 are provided at the intake and dischargeend of the conveyor belt,these rollers mounted in the cross frame wallsabove and'at each end of a table 26? over which the conveyor 22 movesduring carriage of the sheet through the brushes. As-disclosed (seeFigures 7 i and 9), slideways 27 are formed on the inner frame in'whicha bearing frame 28 for the roller is slidably disposed. There are two ofthese slidable bearings blocks, one at each end of the roller. Fromeachbearing block a threaded rod, 29 extends downwardly through a boss30extending outwardly from the frame work. A nut 31 is provided on thelower end of each threaded rod for the purpose of adjusting the bearingon the slideways to apply the appropriate tension to the endlessconveyor.

The bearing frame or cradle 28, in each in-. stance, is of U-form and apair of half bearing seats are formed in the face thereof, one in eacharm, these seats journalling the trunnions 32 extending fromdiametrically opposite sides of a swinging bearing box 33. Bearalignmentthe roller is not bound in its bearings. Adjacent to the take-out end of*theendless conveyor two rollers 37, 38, and complementary idlingrollers 39, 40, are pro- 0 a 9' vided.

The sheet conveying" rollers are driven as follows: A power shaft 41 ismounted in the lower portion'of the outer frame parallel to theconveying rollers. On the outer end of vertical adjustment for properconveyor-'9 the power shaft is a sprocket wheel 42; Over thetal'ze-outrollers is journalled a countershaft 43, having a sprocketwheel 44 on'one end. The counte'rshaft 43 is connected to the powershaft by a chain 45 passing over the sprocket wheels 42, 44', on theends of the respective shafts. The countershaft is utilized toapply'power to the brushing unit. A

sprocket wheel 46 at the'end of this counter shaft, opposite to the oneconnected to the power shaft, is connected by a chain 47 to a' sprocketgear 48'on a trunnion ofthe feed-in roller 20. The diameters of thesprocket wheels are so chosen as to rotate the feed-in roller at thedesired speed. As disclosed the motion is somewhat reduced.

The endless conveyor 18'for presenting the sheets to'the brushing unitis driven by the roller 24 at its take-out end. On the outer end of theroller shaft 24 is locatedagear wheel 49 which is driven by a secondgear 50slightly smaller. in diameter, said gear being'mounted in a sidemember 51 ofsthe outer frame, and this gear. 50 drivenby a still smallergear 52 on the end of the countershaft i just on the outside of thepinion which is connected to the feed-in roller. Through the geararrangement shown, the endless con veyor is drivenat the same speed asthe'feedin roller. i i

As noted before there are'two take-out roll- I25 2 ers 37, 38. The outerone 37 of these is driven from the roller 24 which drives-the endlessconveyonthe mechanism disclosed comprismg a sprocket wheel 53 on thetake-out roller 38, a sprocketwheel 54 on the roller of the endlessconveyor just inside of thee gear wheel 49 and a chainpassing aroundsaid sprocket wheels; This mechanism is best illustrated in Figure l.

The other cleaning or wiping roller 38 mohair covered and is driven froma countershaftwhlchis provided with a'gear 56 mounted just on the insideofthe sideframe. A second and larger gear 57 isflmountefd below a it inthe side frame, and a thirdgear Wheel 58 is mounted belowthe second'gea'r wheel on the shaft of the take out roller 37 Through this gearingthe roller 38 is driven I at a considerably greater rate of speed thanthe conveyor driving roller and for this 'rea-,

son Wipes or cleans the underside of the sheet as it passes through. Ascraper blade 38 is'disposed longitudinally beneath the roller andremoves thedusttherefrom Brushing The brushing unit comprises fourparallel shafts 5 9lying in the same horizontal plane, said shaftsdisposed at each side of and above the endless conveyor and at rightangles to the feed-inrollers. Theyinner two of these shafts are drivenby means of spiral gears 60 mounted on the countershaft above and atright angles to spiral gears 61 mounted on the ends ofthe shafts of thebrushing unit. These gears 60, 61, are protected from dust and dirt bycases 62. These cases 62, Figures 2 and 7, are secured to the frame andhave bosses 63 extending intothe frame, these:

bosses axially traversed by the shafts 5 and carrying packing and ballbearings for the shafts surrounding the same. The gears 60 are keyed 'tothe countershaft and are journailed in ball bearings fi l mounted in thecases 62. Ball bearing and packingjournal boxes 65(are provided at thoseends ofv the shafts 59 which do not carry gears, these boxes beingsuitably secured to the fiame.

Thegears 60, 61, are disposed so as to'driv'el the shafts 59 towhichthey connect, in 'o'p posite directions. 7 V

Each shaft of the brushing unit carries a plurality of pulley wheelsK55, three as disclosed. 'Pulley wheels on alternate shafts are locatedin alignment. This arrangement constitutes the outertwo shafts 59, asidler shafts. Belts '67 pass over these pulley wheels so that each inneror driving shaft moves three belts which pass in reach, instance overapulleywheel on: the outer shaft at the opposite end of the unita Thesebelts are preferably composed: of a fabric having a soft pile ornap(see' Figure 11) adaptedto brush the excess metal dust fromthelithographed surfaces without marring the suit.- faces. The centersof these. belts are just above the endlessconveyorso that "the slackofthe belts causes them when in motion to the endless conveyor; if Y H VvP waai aisipemag u nz't y This unit comprisesla box: 68 in'which'is'rotatably mounted areceptable 69 adapted to contain" the, dryingpowder,- said .re'ceptacle having a lid orsdoor70 through whi'ch' thepowder may be introduced.- The -recep.-:

tacle' ispreferably' composedof a spider or framework 7 1 and fscreening 72 partially or in' whole, or some other porous material surrounding theffr'amework. 'Theaxis of the receptacle i disposed parallelto'th'econveyershafts. Below this receptacle is "a chut'eg73 brush thelithogra phed surfaces disposed on which slantsldownwardliy andforwardly t'o is in mesh withthe gear 74 on the feed-in roller. Abovethis double gearis a sh aft 76' one end of which is journalled in themain frame, and the other end of Wll-lGh'lS journalled in the look'68'about the powder;

containing receptacle. On this shaft is a gear 77 which is in mesh withthe small g'ear:78' of thetwo gears on the feed-in roller so'that thisupper shaft turns; but once to man revolutions of the feed i 11 1 linner side of the outer frame 'z'ibo'veithis lge'ar v On the other endof this upper 'shaftadj'av cent 'to the boxa cam 7 9 is secured whichactuate's a lever 80 pivoted on the shaft 81 r of the powder containingreceptacle. the same shaft 81 and keyed to itis'at r'atchet' wheel 82which is preventedfromiturning backwardly by a pawl 83 formedof aspringplate having; its mounted"endfsecured be- On the upper endof the lever80 adapted to be actuated by the 'cam', a pawl 85 is pivoted and adaptedto operate the ratchet so that the cam actuates the lever and theleveroperates the ratchet wheel whichis onfthe samefshaft 'as the receptacle.The lever 80 is loosely pivotedon the hub of the ratchet Wheel.

',A set screw 85 i sadjustablymountedon e the end of the x68 forengaging the arm and limiting the movementof'the pawl 85 as the lever 80swingsdueto gravity-when un supported by the cam.p Thus the receptacleis slowly and periodically rotated and agitated to shake out thedrying-out'powder and cause a it to dropby gravity; down the-chute andonto the lithographed surface which' issupported at the time on theendless conveyor; a

It is to be particularly noted that thebear ings u'sed througl'iout theentire device, with tween a pair'of lugs 84 on the side of the box. 1

the exception of the bearings for the shaft incidental to the operationof the receptacle,

are mounted in ball bearings. The journal boxes contain aball bearingraceway, a packing adapted to store lubricant and a closure memberadapted to keep the dust outf'It is to be understood that considerabledust is created by the operation of this'machine and der. Beneath eachset of idler pulleys of the brushingunit and parallel to the shaftthereof are locatedbristle brushes 86 which contact the-pile of thebelt. The belts arev so rotated that any particular portion of thebelt-travels from'the' sheet being brushed to this belt brush whichremoves the dust from the belt and prepares it to take up more dust.

The frame of the machine is formed to provide sealed chambers 87 belowthe respec tive bristle brushes 86, these chambers having downwardcontinuations in' the form of sheet metalbins 88 secured to the frame.The drawers or boxes 17 are supported on the bottoms of the respectivebins and are disposed laterally thereinto through openings 89 in thesides of the frame. The used powder is deposited down through thechambers and bins into the drawers and removed, via the drawers. 7

It is to be observed that thisv system is adapted for brushing eitherdried, printed,

or lithographed surfaces or freshly lithographed surfaces in which casemultiple handling of sheets is obviated.

The chalk deposited periodically on the surface of the printed sheetcoming through the machine, acts as a carrier for the excess of loosemetal dust. It will be understood that the dust coating on the sheetcoming through is still in a moist condition being spread on adhesiveapplied a short time before. The necessary amount of the dust adheres tothe adhesive coated portions of the sheet but considerable excessisspread looselv overthe sheet. j The chalk tends to render the dust coat=ing on the adhesive more viscous or sticky, but at the sametime acts tominglewith any loose particles scattered about the surface of the sheet.,The still moist sheet enters the region below the brushing unit and issubject .ed to the action of the brushing belts. As

mentioned before the driving tension is in gion.

per.

pile and the slack lengths of belting engage the sheet lightly andalways at the same pres sure which is never under any undue force.

The belts are comparatively narrow and 'move at great speed ascompared'with the motion of the sheet through the brushing re- Anysmearing tendency of one belt is immediately counteracted by the nextadjacent'belt moving in the reverse'direction.

Furthermore the provision of narrow belts movlng in reverse d1rectionsprevents the sheet from being displaced laterally .on the conveyor andstabilizes its movement.

The bristle brushes upon the respective ends, of the brushing unitremove any dust,

chalk, or foreign matter from eachbelt be.'

fore it proceeds across the surface of the pa- This constant cleaningprevents any accumulation of dust, ink, or foreign matter on the pile ofthe belts.

v The machine is highly eflicient in its work and although the sheets,taken therefrom and stacked, are still in condition which would permitof smearing if a heavy pressure and Wiping action were exerted thereon,the machine hasthoroughly cleansed the surface without harming the dustcoated surfaces.

Having described my invention, 1 claim: l. A machine for removing metaldust from lithographed surfaces comprising, two shafts, a plurality ofpulley wheelsmounted on each of said shafs, a series of belts mounted onsaid pulley wheels, a second'p'air' of shafts 1n the same horizontalplane as the first set of shafts having bearings in substantially thesame vertical plane as the first set of shafts, a plurality of pulleyson each of said shafts of said second set, a plurality of beltsmountedon said pulleys, the pulleys of said first set and said secondset alternating, a power shaft running at right angles to said shafts onwhich the'pulleys are mounted, connection between said power shaft andtwo of said pulley shafts to move said sets of belts in oppositedirections, and means for conveying the lithographed surfaces beneathsaid belts at a level to be light ly brushed thereby.

'2. A machine for removing metal dust from lithographed surfacescomprising, two

' shafts, a plurality of pulley-wheels mounted von each of saidshaftyavseries of belts mounted on said pulley wheels, a second pair ofshafts in the same horizontal plane as the first set of shafts havingbearings 1n substantially the same vertical plane as the first set ofshafts, a plurality-of pulleys on each of said shafts of saidsecond set,a plurality of belts mounted on said pulleys, the-pulleys of said firstset and said'second set alternating, a power shaft running atrightangles to said shafts on which the pulleys are mounted, (3011+ nectionbetween said power shaft and two of 7 said pulley shafts to move saidsets of belts in opposite directions, and means for conveying thelithographed surfaces beneath said belts at a level to be lightlybrushed thereby,

said mechanism driven by said power shaft;

3. A machine for removing metal dust y from lithographed surfaces,comprising, two

shafts. a plurality of pulley wheels mounted i on each of said shafts, aseries of belts mounts ed on said pulley wheels, a second pair of shaftsin the same horizontal plane as the first set of shafts having bearingsin substantially the same vertical plane as the first set of shafts, aplurality of pulleys on each of said shafts of said second set, aplurality of belts mounted on said pulleys, the pulleys of 7 said firstset and said second set alternating,

apower shaft running at right angles to said shafts on which the pulleysare mounted, connection between said power shaft and two of said pulleyshafts to move said sets of belts, in opposite directions, means forconveying the lithographed surfaces beneath said belts at a level to.belightly brushed thereby, said mechanism comprising an endless conveyorimmediately beneath the belts,

said conveyor driven from one end of said power shaft, a take-out rolleradj acentto the end of the conveyor, said roller driven from the otherend of said power shaft, a second i take-out roller adjacent to thefirst take-out roller, said second take-out roller driven the endlessconveyor, and a feed-in roller adjacent to the other end of said endlessconveyor, said feed-in roller driven from said power shaft by means of achain.

4. In a machine of the class described, an endless conveyor, means fordriving said endless conveyor, a series of belts disposed transverselyacross the surface of the conveyor, said belts having a heavy nap, andmeans for driving adjacent belts in reverse direc-' tions, said drivingmotion imparted to the belts in such wise as to exert the driving forceon the upper portions thereof whereby the lower portions are slack.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe" my nam e. s ANDREW E..BROADSTON.

